Nick Foster, pastor and firefighter, receives a shock when his church is reported on fire. But nothing can prepare him for the body he pulls out of the ashes. At the same time, town bad girl Issie Mattreaux finds out that her teenage nephew, who she always claimed took after her, is in trouble way over his head. When she drops into his hangout to tell him to come home, his friends slash her tires and vandalize her apartment. In the fourth book of the Newpointe 911 series, Trial By Fire, the two opposites struggle to understand Gods plan for each of them. The relationship that has slowly developed comes to a head as Nick and Issie reevaluate their lives and their purposes. Once again, Terri Blackstock has created a fantastic combination of action and spiritualism, bringing the two together flawlessly. Realistically created, her characters keep the story moving as they struggle not just with the murderer in their midst but also with the sinner within. After four long novels, we finally watch Nick and Issie grow together, each of them compensating for the other. Unlike most of her novels, the villain in Trial By Fire is obvious from the beginning. The problem becomes locating him and avoiding his vendetta against Nick and Issie. The young man, who led a life filled with problems, lashes out in hatred over and over again. While dodging bullets, Issie struggles with her life and the things she has taught her nephew concepts like there is no good and evil. She comes to realize what her influence has led him into. While young Jake is responsible for his own actions, Issie comes to understand exactly what her example has meant. Through the last three novels, Nick has struggled with a sense of failure as a pastor. He views the burning of his church as a sign from the Lord that he should not be a minister. Only the combined and unorchestrated efforts of his congregation can prove to him that Christs church is not a building but a state of mind. Blackstocks talent for building suspense keeps the reader gripped to the novel. Her fast and exciting pace keeps us reading all through the night, and she doesnt let us down when we reach the conclusion. Originally supposed to conclude the series, Trial By Fire mesmerizes the reader to the point where putting the book down is not an option. |
